1. Physical Geography
Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province, the political, economic, scientific, technological, educational and cultural center of Guangdong Province, and also a regional central city in South China. Guangzhou is located in the south of Chinese mainland, south-central Guangdong Province, at the northern end of the Pearl River Delta, near the South China Sea, and adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao. The Pearl River, the third largest river in China, passes through the city and enjoys a very advantageous geographical position. It is called the "South Gate" of China.
Guangzhou is located in the south subtropical zone, and the Tropic of Cancer runs through the north, belonging to a typical maritime monsoon climate in the south subtropical zone. There is no heat in summer, no cold in winter and abundant rainfall here. The four seasons are like spring, and a hundred flowers blossom. The annual average temperature is 20 ~ 22 degrees Celsius, and the average relative humidity is 77%. The annual rainfall in the urban area is1982.7mm. Due to the mild climate. The soil is moist and sunny. Guangzhou has been known as the "Flower City" since ancient times, because the trees here are evergreen and flowers bloom all year round. In domestic cities, this nickname and reputation is also unique to Guangzhou. Anyone who travels to Guangzhou will definitely fully feel and personally experience this world full of flowers, the sea of flowers and the festival of flowers. Guangzhou deserves to be called the Flower City!
2. Population products
Guangzhou has jurisdiction over 10 districts and 2 county-level cities. 10 area: Liwan, Yuexiu, Haizhu, Tianhe, Baiyun, Huangpu, Panyu, Huadu, Nansha and Luogang. The two county-level cities are Zengcheng and Conghua.
Guangzhou has a total land area of 7434.4 square kilometers and a built-up area of more than 350 square kilometers. In June 2000, after Panyu and Huadu, two county-level cities, were removed from the city and divided into districts, the urban area of Guangzhou was further expanded. At present, Guangzhou has become the largest coastal city in the south of China.
By the end of March 2002, the population (including registered population and floating population) in the administrative area of Guangzhou exceeded10 million, of which the urban population exceeded 6 million, and the average daily floating population in the urban area reached more than 3 million. In this sense, it can be said that Guangzhou is a veritable undefended city.
Guangzhou has superior natural conditions and abundant natural resources. There are many well-known agricultural and sideline products at home and abroad, and as many as 100 species have been identified by experts. Guangzhou is a famous "hometown of fruits" in China. Natural conditions such as land and climate in Guangzhou are suitable for the growth of many tropical and subtropical fruit trees, and fruits are listed all year round. There are more than 500 varieties of fruits in Guangzhou, among which litchi, banana, papaya and pineapple enjoy the reputation of "the four best fruits in Lingnan", which has long been famous at home and abroad, and is also the four varieties with the largest fruit planting area and output in Guangzhou. Others, such as carambola, longan, wampee, oranges and oranges, are also famous for a long time.
3. Historical origin
Today, when Guangzhou is mentioned, people will easily and naturally associate it with modernity, fashion, prosperity, wealth and beauty. In fact, Guangzhou is a famous historical and cultural city with a long history and profound cultural background, and it is one of the first national historical and cultural cities promulgated by the State Council. From 2 14 BC (the thirty-third year of Qin Shihuang), the Qin Dynasty appointed Ren Xiao as Nanhaiwei and built a city (commonly known as Ren Xiaocheng). Guangzhou has a history of 22 19 years. Among the world famous historical cities, except for a few cities such as ancient Rome and Athens, Paris, London and Moscow are all younger than Guangzhou.
According to historical records, in the Zhou Dynasty in the 9th century BC, "Baiyue" people here had contacts with Chu people in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and "Chu Pavilion" was specially built to commemorate this friendship, which was also the earliest name of Guangzhou.
In 2 14 BC, Nanhai county was established after the unification of Lingnan by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. The county is located in Panyu, Cangbian Road, Yuehua Road, Zhongshan Road and Beijing Road in the old city of Guangzhou. Qian Zheng Chao appointed Ren Di as Nanhai Wei and built a city, commonly known as Ren Xiaocheng. Some people think that "Renxiao City" is in the area of Cangbian Road in Yuexiu District today. At the end of Qin Dynasty and the beginning of Han Dynasty, Zhao Tuo succeeded Nanhai Wei, established Nanyue State, called himself Emperor Wu of Nanyue, and built Zhao Tuo City.
In the autumn of the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu's Ding Yuan (1 12 BC), he sent Fu Bo general Lü bode and shipbuilding general Yang Fu to lead the army, set up an army in Lingnan, abolished the Southern Empire, moved the capital to Nanhai County, and remained in Panyu (now Guangzhou). During the Three Kingdoms period, in the fifth year of Huang Wu (AD 226), Sun Quan established Guangzhou in the east of Jiaozhou. The name of Guangzhou begins. It has a history of 1770 years.
4. Wuyang legend
You may have heard that Guangzhou has several beautiful nicknames. I'm going to test you now to see if you can tell it all. Yes, everyone is right. Guangzhou is also known as Huacheng, Yangcheng and Guangzhou. The Flower City has been briefly introduced to you in front, but most of your understanding and memory of the Flower City comes from Huo Mu's famous essay "Flower City", one of the four great essayists in China. This well-known essay has been included in middle school Chinese textbooks, and generations of China people remember that Guangzhou is eleven cities named after flowers. Then, why is Guangzhou also called "Yangcheng" and "Guangzhou City"? There is a very beautiful legend in it.
According to legend, one year, due to successive years of disasters, Chuting farmland was barren, agriculture was completely harvested, and the people were hungry and cold. One day, five auspicious clouds appeared in the sky. There are five immortals dressed in red, orange, yellow, green and colorful clothes, riding five fairy sheep of different colors, each with a rice with six ears in its mouth, and slowly landing in this city. The fairy gave the rice to the people, leaving five sheep, hoping that there would never be a famine here, and then flew away.
Since then, Guangzhou has become the richest place in Lingnan, and it has also begun to have a "Yangcheng". Known as the "Five Yangcheng" and "Guangzhou City". Later, the people of Guangzhou also built a "Five Immortals View" on Huifu West Road to commemorate these five immortals who benefited Guangzhou. If you don't believe me, you can go to the east of Wuxian Temple. There is still a huge red sandstone footprint cave, which is the "immortal thumb print". If you still don't believe me, you can go to the foot of Yuexiu Mountain again. There is a famous archway "Guchuting", which tells people that the oldest name in Guangzhou is "Chuting".
People who like to use their brains and are good at thinking may think: in this myth and legend, why do immortals ride sheep instead of other animals? Why are the clothes of the five immortals colored and the clothes of the sheep colored? Is there any mystery in this?
Yes, behind this myth and legend, it also contains very rich historical and cultural connotations. In other words, it's no accident that the immortal rode a sheep. It is no accident that the gods count five times, clothes are colored and sheep are colored. Let's start with why it's a sheep. Here, I tell you a basic fact. Animal husbandry experts proved that the sheep in Guangdong came from the north, indicating that Wuyang myth is a prehistoric colonial myth. As early as the Zhou Dynasty in the 9th century BC, people from the Central Plains began to move south, bringing the culture and civilization from the north to Lingnan people. At the same time, it also proves that Guangzhou was an immigrant city very early. Maybe someone will ask, ancestors who moved to Yangcheng can also let dogs go. Bring pigs or something, why only sheep? This may be because the distance is too far. Pigs move slowly, so it is not convenient to drive them in batches. In addition, in ancient legends, the image of pigs is not good. Dogs, the totems and ancestors of many ancient nationalities, were rarely raised as livestock with economic value. Compared with dogs and pigs, sheep have strong reproductive ability, strong adaptability and high economic value. Today, there is still a saying in Guangdong that "planting ginger and raising sheep will benefit from less capital" and "the sheep will never leave the fetus". Plus, it moves fast and is easy to drive away. It can be seen that the immortal riding sheep in Wuyang myth not only symbolizes that he is from the north, but also has psychological, moral and economic considerations. There is a certain scientific reason that sheep became the ideal livestock carried by the ancestors who moved south that day.
Today, Wuyang has become the symbol of Guangzhou. Careful tourists will find that the nickname "Yangcheng" has penetrated into every aspect of Guangzhou's life: books include "Yangcheng Ancient Banknotes", publications include "Yangcheng Ancient and Modern", and newspapers have "Yangcheng Evening News" with "Eight Scenes of Yangcheng" on it; Even many trademarks, companies, societies and places of interest are named after "Yangcheng"; The "Five Immortals View" still exists today, and the "immortal thumb mark" is still visible; Huxian Street, Xianlin Lane, Infinite Gate, etc. There is also a little "fairy" flavor-the myth of "Wuyang fairy", which has far-reaching influence.
5. Economic development
Guangzhou has been a famous commercial port in China since ancient times, with an open trade history of more than 2,000 years. Since the reform and opening up, Guangzhou's economic development has shown new vitality and made remarkable achievements. From 1992, Guangzhou's comprehensive economic strength jumped to the third place in the national 10 metropolis. Especially since the Ninth Five-Year Plan, Guangzhou's economic strength and comprehensive competitiveness have been significantly enhanced, and its contribution to the country and Guangdong Province has been increasing.
In 2004, Guangzhou's GDP exceeded 400 billion yuan, reaching 4 1 1.58 billion yuan, an increase of 15% over the previous year. Among them, the added value of the primary industry1155 million yuan, an increase of 5.4%; The added value of the secondary industry 18 177 1 100 million yuan, an increase of17.2%; The added value of the tertiary industry was 21826 million yuan, an increase of 13.8%. The proportion of the three industries is 2.8 1: 44. 16: 53.03. According to the registered population, the annual per capita GDP was 56,300 yuan, an increase of13.7%; According to the average exchange rate of the year, it is about 6,800 US dollars, ranking among the top cities in China.
The most prominent feature of Guangzhou's economic development is that the tertiary industry is very developed, including commerce, tourism, catering and information, finance and real estate services. In 2002, the added value of the tertiary industry reached 65.438+066.855 billion yuan, accounting for 55.59% of the city's GDP, and the contribution rate of the tertiary industry to economic growth reached 55.9%, reaching the level of moderately developed countries. Another outstanding feature of Guangzhou's economic development is its high degree of opening to the outside world and developed foreign economic relations and trade. According to statistics, since the reform and opening up, Guangzhou's foreign trade exports have averaged 2 1%. In 2002, the city's total import and export volume reached US$ 279,354.38+0 billion, of which exports reached US$ 654,388+378.4 million. The export market has reached more than 200 countries and regions. 1979 to 2002, the actual utilization of foreign capital in the whole city was 29.453 billion US dollars, ranking second in the national 10 big cities. More than 60 countries and regions have invested in Guangzhou, and more than 8,000 foreign-funded enterprises and 2,000 offices have been established in Guangzhou.
6. Urban construction
In recent years, with the rapid economic growth and the remarkable enhancement of urban comprehensive strength, Guangzhou has obviously increased the intensity of urban construction. Since the autumn of 1998, Guangzhou has implemented the strategies of "small change in one year", "medium change in three years" and "big change in 20 10". During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period (from 1997 to 200 1), the city's total investment in urban construction reached 6 1 100 million yuan, equivalent to three times the sum of the first eight five-year plans. Now Guangzhou has fully and successfully realized the "one-year minor reform". With the goal of "one change every three years", the urban landscape has undergone extensive and profound changes. It can be said that it is not only a miracle in the history of urban construction in Guangzhou, but also rare in the history of urban construction in China and even the whole world.
The achievements of "minor reform" and "medium reform" have not only been sincerely appreciated by the broad masses, but also fully affirmed and highly praised by the main leaders of the party and the state. At the same time, they also have a positive impact and are widely recognized internationally. 200165438+On February 3rd, Guangzhou won the glorious title of "International Garden City" and won back the grand prize known as "Green Oscar" internationally, becoming the most populous city in the world, winning glory for the motherland. On May 26th, 2002, Guangzhou was successfully selected as one of the 40 "Best Examples of UN Improving Human Settlements in 2002" in the world, and won the Top Ten Award in July.
7. People's lives
Guangzhou has strong economic strength, rapid development and full of vitality. The living standard of Guangzhou people is naturally rising. Compared with residents of nine major cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Xi, Wuhan, Shenyang, Harbin and Nanjing, Guangzhou people make the most money and spend the most money. Guangzhou people earn and spend the most money in the country.
In 2004, the average wage of employees in the city was 3 1025 yuan, an increase of 9.9%. The per capita disposable income of urban households reached 16884 yuan, an increase of 12.5%. After deducting the price factor, the actual growth was 10.7%. The agricultural tax was completely abolished, greatly reducing the burden on farmers. The per capita net income of rural households was 6,625 yuan, an increase of 8. 1%. After deducting the price factor, the real increase was 2.9%. The annual per capita consumption expenditure of urban households was 1, 3 1, 2 1 yuan, increasing by 13.4%. Among them, the service consumption expenditure was 4653 yuan, an increase of 18.5%, and the number of cars owned by every 100 households in the city increased from 2.3 in the previous year to 4. The per capita living expenditure of rural households was 4,353 yuan, an increase of 5.8%. The price level is generally stable, and the total consumer price index of urban residents for the whole year is 10 1.7.
8. Folk customs
Traveling to a place is nothing more than taking a look and learning about the scenic spots, cultural relics, famous mountains and rivers, customs and customs there. Guangzhou is the center and birthplace of Lingnan culture. In this ancient and young city, we can not only feel the strong impact and vitality of modern civilization, but also appreciate the unique charm of traditional Lingnan folk culture. The history of civilization in Guangzhou for more than two thousand years has left many unknown and colorful folk customs, which are reflected in all aspects of social life, including diet, residence, architecture, commerce, language, seasons, marriage, ancestor worship, etiquette and entertainment. Since Guangzhou has been a city with a strong immigrant color since ancient times, the folk customs of Guangzhou also reflect the unique charm and charm of an immigrant city everywhere: colorful, lively and diverse, ancient and young, and sparks of multicultural collision are generated everywhere. Today, there are still many ancient customs in Guangzhou folk customs, including the ancient rhyme of the Han nationality in the Central Plains and the special endowment of Baiyue ancients.
At the same time, because Guangzhou is located in southern Xinjiang and has a long coastline, it is the first to accept the influence of overseas folk culture, which makes Guangzhou folk customs have both the charm of a new seaside and a little "foreign flavor": they spend the traditional Spring Festival and Christmas in the West; While wandering the streets, I send roses to my lover; Eating hamburgers, sushi and cocktails, eating snakes, cooking dogs and drinking kungfu tea; Dance dragon and lion, while dancing disco and singing karaoke; While wearing jeans and halter tops, revive cheongsam and Xiangyun shirts; While operating the computer to predict the market situation, it also provides the god of wealth and fortune telling. The diversity, openness and compatibility of Lingnan folk culture are everywhere.
Teahouses in Guangzhou can best reflect the folk customs of Guangzhou. People in Guangzhou like to drink tea in teahouses, which are famous all over the country. Guangzhou people often say "there is not enough tea" when they meet in the morning (meaning "have you had morning tea?" ) It can be seen that people in Guangzhou love to drink tea. Guangzhou people have a long history of drinking tea. Since the beginning of the19th century, the fashion of "drinking morning tea" has become popular in the Pearl River Delta since the teahouse in Guangzhou rose from a humble teahouse. Teahouses are everywhere, which can be described as five steps to the first floor and ten steps to a pavilion. Even small villages and towns in the suburbs have no tea houses (buildings). After the reform and opening up, the teahouse industry in Guangzhou is more developed. Now, there are nearly 20,000 teahouses and restaurants in Guangzhou, which are all over the streets. No matter where you go, you can taste "three teas and two meals". From "drinking morning tea" to "drinking afternoon tea" to "drinking night tea" at night, the grade is getting higher and higher, and the food is getting more and more exquisite. People in various provinces who are eager for opening up and reform often take pleasure in living in Guangdong, so Guangdong teahouses have been built as far south as the ends of the earth and as far north as the grasslands in Inner Mongolia. Later, "Laoshe Teahouse" was deeply rooted in the ancient capital. Both Beijingers and Chengdu people with superb skills in building bowls and making tea learned "drinking morning tea" from Guangzhou people. The wind of Guangzhou teahouse has spread all over the country, inside and outside the Great Wall, and has become a window to spread Lingnan culture.
Then there is the Guangzhou New Year's Eve Flower Market, which is full of the breath of Lingnan traditional festivals. The ten-mile long street is full of all kinds of flowers, you can choose from them. Guangzhou people who love and cherish flowers are in an endless stream. There are also "lazy" children marching in the city, and it is difficult to taste the lively scene without visiting the scene in person. There is also the Lantern Festival, which is dazzling and dazzling. Then there is the exquisiteness of Guangzhou's Tanabata custom, the enthusiasm of climbing mountains in Chongyang, and the solemnity of the winter solstice festival (Guangzhou people call it the "winter solstice festival").
The silver dragon boat race in Guangzhou is different from that in other places. Most other places commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, and Guangzhou Dragon Boat Race is a traditional folk festival around the Dragon Boat Festival in Guangzhou every year.
The polo temple fair in Guangzhou is also different from other temple fairs. It commemorates Poseidon's birthday, and the Boluo chicken cooked during the temple fair is unique to Guangzhou.
The famous floating color in Shawan is an ancient folk art in the south of China, and it is well-known at home and abroad for its unique and thrilling dramatic figures.
Mache Huogou is a large-scale folk art activity with a history of more than 600 years, which shows people's joy of harvest and yearning for a better life.
The birthday of King Pangu is to commemorate the legendary King Pangu. The Temple of King Pangu in Huadu is famous for its endless incense.
9. Famous hometown of overseas Chinese
Guangzhou is a famous hometown of overseas Chinese in China and a big city with the largest number of overseas Chinese in China. According to statistics, there are overseas Chinese and foreign Chinese in the city; Compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao 1.35 million. Among them, there are 520,000 overseas Chinese, distributed in five continents 1 16 countries and regions, and 830,000 compatriots from Southeast Asia, the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Macao. There are more than 10,000 returned overseas Chinese, their relatives and relatives of Hong Kong and Macao compatriots 1 10,000.
Guangzhou has a long history of emigrating overseas. With the development of transportation and trade between China and foreign countries, Guangzhou people have traveled all over the world for a long time and settled down to become overseas Chinese and Chinese. According to records, after the Tang Dynasty, the number of Guangzhou people living abroad increased day by day. In the middle of Kangxi, the sea ban was opened, and more people made a living abroad. In modern times, there was a climax of emigration in Guangzhou. The main reasons are as follows: first, the livelihood of the broad masses of people is becoming increasingly difficult, and they can't bear the persecution and slaughter of the Qing government. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Guangdong authorities in the Qing Dynasty suppressed the Guangdong Heaven and Earth Society Uprising and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Revolution by cruel slaughter, and many uprising participants and their relatives fled overseas to take refuge and settle down. Second, the western colonialists were in urgent need of labor and lured China workers to China. According to statistics, during the five years from 1848 to 1852, more than 30,000 China laborers were lured in Guangzhou and its vicinity.
The vast number of overseas Chinese have a tradition of loving their country and hometown, and they have made indelible contributions to the motherland and hometown. First, they enthusiastically supported and actively participated in the revolutionary movement and all patriotic activities of the motherland. During the whole period of the old democratic revolution and the new democratic revolution, from the democratic revolutionary movement led by Sun Yat-sen to the people's liberation war in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and all the patriotic and democratic movements against imperialism and feudalism, the vast number of patriotic overseas Chinese almost lost their jobs, and many people lost their money and sacrificed their lives to help them out. Second, actively invest in the establishment of modern industrial enterprises, which opened the prelude to the establishment of state-owned enterprises in Guangzhou. 1860, Li Mou, an overseas Chinese from Peru, and others founded the Export Bank of Bandung Bank in Guangzhou, creating a precedent for overseas Chinese to invest. 1872, Chen Qiyuan, an overseas Chinese from Nanyang, founded the first machine silk reeling factory in China in Nanhai. Then, overseas Chinese living in the United States set up the first household electric lamp company in Guangzhou. At the beginning of the 20th century, Malaysian overseas Chinese founded the first rubber enterprise in China in Guangzhou, and American and Canadian overseas Chinese invested and founded the first public automobile company in Guangzhou. The third is to spread western culture widely and promote cultural exchanges between China and the West in Guangzhou.
(B) Guangzhou characteristics
There are many reputations and elegant names about Guangzhou, such as "South Gate of China", "Flower City, Yangcheng, Guangzhou City", "Hometown of Fruits", "Hometown of Overseas Chinese", "The biggest coastal city in southern China", "Famous Commercial Port", "City that Never Sleeps" and "City of Immigrants". These names and generalizations reflect the characteristics and perspectives of Guangzhou.
The characteristics of Guangzhou. Some people sum it up as "Top Ten" characteristics. In order to make it easy for everyone to remember, it is expressed in one sentence, that is, "one capital, two cities, three modernizations and four places".
"One Capital" means that Guangzhou is a famous commercial capital; "Second City" means that Guangzhou is a famous ancient city, including a long history and culture of the city and an excellent ecological environment suitable for living. "Sante" refers to Cantonese, Cantonese cuisine and Cantonese opera unique to Guangzhou; "Four Places" means that Guangzhou is the birthplace of the Maritime Silk Road, the cradle of modern revolution, the center of Lingnan culture and the frontier of reform and opening up.
1. Shangdu
Due to the unique geographical location and special historical and cultural factors, Guangzhou's commerce has a long history and fine traditions, and has developed and prospered since ancient times. Historically, Guangzhou has always been a famous commercial port in China.
Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, Guangzhou has been an ancient metropolis in the south of China, with the reputation of "Jinshan is close to the sea and Tianzi is the south bank". According to historical records, "Panyu is also a metropolis", and Sima Qian listed Panyu as one of the nine metropolises in China at that time. "Hanshu" also said: "Panyu is a metropolis" and "more investment will make you rich". It means that businessmen who come here to do business are likely to make a fortune.
By the Tang Dynasty, Guangzhou Port had developed into a port that could accommodate nearly a thousand large and small ships. The official first set up a city envoy in Guangzhou (the first official in charge of overseas trade in China), and opened a route from Guangzhou to the west 14000 km, which was the longest route in the world at that time. Today, there are 6.5438+200,000 foreign businessmen and their families living in the dining room on Guangta Road. That year, Guangzhou formed an international jewelry market.
During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, "there were tens of thousands of foreigners in Guangzhou" and "Guangzhou was rich and famous in the world". Edolik, an Italian traveler at that time, said that Guangzhou is "a city three times bigger than Venice, and there are not so many boats in Italy". Ibn battuta, an Arab traveler, also thinks that Guangzhou is "one of the big cities in the world". The beautiful city appearance is beyond the reach of major cities in the world. "
In the Ming Dynasty, Guangzhou was the first foreign trade fair, which was held twice a year in Xia Dong. At that time, Guangzhou was the largest tributary port in China and the largest foreign trade port in China. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, due to the invasion of western colonialists and Japanese pirates, the imperial court implemented the policy of sea ban, abolished the diplomatic envoys of Ningbo and Quanzhou, and only retained a trading port with Guangzhou. Guangzhou monopolized the foreign trade rights of the whole country.
In Qing Dynasty, Guangzhou set up "Thirteen Banks" to specialize in foreign trade. 1757 (the 22nd year of Qianlong), the Qing government closed three trading ports, Zhangzhou, Ningbo and Yuntai Mountain, leaving only one port in Guangzhou for foreign trade for 83 years. Guangzhou has once again become the only foreign trade port in China. Until the Opium War, Guangzhou's foreign trade was unprecedentedly prosperous. Some historians described Guangzhou at that time: "Guangzhou became a place where domestic and foreign trade was extremely prosperous. All the trade between the Chinese empire and western countries is gathered in Guangzhou. Products from all over China are shipped here, and the warehouses of merchants from all provinces run profitable businesses here. "From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, Guangzhou vigorously introduced overseas Chinese and foreign capital to set up enterprises, foreign firms and banks, and the development of commerce and foreign trade was in a leading position in the country.
After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), China Export Commodities Fair (Canton Fair) was held in Guangzhou from 1957. By 2002, 9 1 Canton Fair had been successfully held. Canton Fair is the largest export commodities fair in China, with the highest grade and the largest turnover, accounting for one third of the country's export trade, and is called "the first exhibition in China". The Canton Fair has played an important role in promoting China's foreign trade and has a wide influence at home and abroad. Since the reform and opening up, Guangzhou's status as a business capital has been continuously improved, and its commercial and comprehensive economic strength ranks third among major cities in China.
Guangzhou Shangdu has a long history, profound background, strong strength and enduring. The history of Guangzhou's urban development can be said to be the history of commercial development. In more than 2000 years of open trade, Guangzhou is a veritable historical capital. Today, Guangzhou is ahead of the trend of reform and opening up, and business is leading the trend again. Guangzhou and Guangzhou goods once became synonymous with fashion. Guangzhou has become a real "shopping paradise". By the end of 20001,there were more than 200,000 commercial service outlets in Guangzhou, with 29 outlets per 1,000 people in urban and rural areas, ranking first in the country.
To feel and experience the fun and charm of Guangzhou's "shopping paradise", you can visit three major markets:
One is to visit a large comprehensive shopping mall. The relatively large comprehensive shopping malls in Guangzhou mainly include Guangzhou Department Store, Xindaxin Square, Nanfang Building and Guangzhou Friendship Store, as well as the newly-developed Wangfujing Department Store, Tianhe City Shopping Mall, New China Building, China Square, Popular Front Line, Dongshan Xindaxin Square, Liwan Square and Times Square.
The second is to visit two commercial pedestrian streets: Shangxiajiu Road Pedestrian Street and Beijing Road Pedestrian Street. Visiting these two pedestrian streets can also feel the typical architectural style of Lingnan arcade.
The third is to visit professional markets and specialty streets. As the central city and commercial center of South China, Guangzhou is the logistics distribution center of the whole province and even the whole country. It is more appropriate to describe the merchants in Guangzhou with "goods are like their wheels". Therefore, Guangzhou has formed nearly 400 professional markets and a specialty street. Some famous professional markets and streets, such as Hualin Jade Street, Xiguan Antique City, Qingping Market and Gaudi Street. , also might as well go and have a look, I believe there will be gains.
2. Ancient city
How long is the history of Guangzhou? According to legend (non-historical records), it began in Chu Weiwang during the Warring States Period (338 BC); According to historical documents, after Qin Shihuang unified Lingnan in 2 14 BC, Ren Tao was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the South China Sea, and Ren Tao built Fan Yucheng on Gufan Mountain and Yushan Mountain. If the word "Guangzhou" appears, it should start with the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sun Quan and Guangzhou in the fifth year of Wu (226).
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, China was a chaotic period. The ancients said, "There is no righteous war in the Spring and Autumn Period." Big countries and small countries are striving for hegemony, always trying to dominate the Central Plains and annex other countries' territories. In 355 BC, the state of Chu destroyed Yue. Later, Chu Weiwang used Gao Gu and former South Vietnam as the national phase of Chu. It is said that this Gao Gu was born in Nanhai (now Guangzhou), but he is very mighty and handsome. Very smart and talented. Hearing this, Chu Weiwang called him to the palace. After careful investigation and rigorous testing, he admired him very much and was awarded the status of a country. Gogo lived up to his great trust. He used the rites and music of the Zhou Dynasty to educate the Chu people. He changed the Chu people who only knew how to fight, but they were martial, and they didn't know the etiquette and justice, so that Chu later became a great country with both civil and military skills and competed for hegemony with the countries in the Central Plains. After Gao Gu resigned and returned to Lingnan, he built a "Nanwucheng" under Yuexiu Mountain in Panyu (now Guangzhou). This is the earliest city in Guangzhou history. Koko also built a "Chu Pavilion" (also known as Chu Pavilion) to show that Lingnan is the Chu side. At present, there is an ancient Chu Pavilion in Yuexiu Mountain, which means that Gogu once built a Chu Pavilion here.
In 22 1 BC, Qin Shihuang unified the six countries, but Lingnan was not conquered and the Vietnamese did not want to belong to Qin. Qin Shihuang sent troops south to attack South Vietnam, but met with fierce resistance from the Vietnamese. After three battles, Qin Shihuang did not win, and his troops suffered heavy losses. The Vietnamese sneaked into the mountains and forests, and the northerners were not familiar with Lingnan terrain, not to mention the weather and climate in the south. As a result, those who died in battle died of illness and were constantly attacked by the Vietnamese army. The Vietnamese also blocked roads everywhere and cut off the grain and grass in Qin Jun, forcing Qin Shihuang to do nothing at the moment. Finally, Qin Shihuang recruited 654.38 million migrant workers, and opened the waterway between Lijiang River and Xiangjiang River in the north of Guilin, Guangxi (later called Lingqu), which solved the traffic problem entering Lingnan. Then the troops were dispatched, and Qin Shihuang defeated South Vietnam with 500,000 people, and finally completed the great cause of national reunification.
Ren Tao, the general who led Qin Jun south, was left by Qin Shihuang to guard Lingnan. Qin Shihuang implemented the county system in Lingnan, with three counties and several counties, namely Nanhai County, Elephant County and Guilin County.
Ren Xiao was appointed as the county magistrate of Nanhai County by Qin Shihuang, so he built "Ren Xiao City" on the basis of Nanwu City. Zhao Tuo, the general who went south with Ren Xiao, was appointed as the county magistrate of Longchuan, which is today's county magistrate. Zhao Tuo is Ren Tao's right-hand man. During his tenure as the "Commander-in-Chief of the South China Sea", Ren Tao adopted the method of combining kindness with prestige and uniting education to make the Lingnan area unimpeded. While vigorously developing production, he also strengthened his military defense forces. He passed on the developed culture and advanced production technology of the Central Plains to the Vietnamese people, making Lingnan rich soon. It was only 15 years before and after the Qin Dynasty ruled China. By the time Qin Ershi and Hu Hai ruled, the world was in chaos. Ren Tao is ready to support his troops and stand on its own two feet. But because he was old, in poor health and had no son to take over, he pinned his hopes on Zhao Tuo. So he called Zhao Tuo to his side to discuss the plan. He said to Zhao Tuo, "It seems that the Qin Dynasty won't last long. Lingnan is fertile and far from the imperial court. It is better to break off diplomatic relations with the Central Plains while the world is in turmoil. But I can't finish it. If your brother is wise, I will advise you to take the job and try my best to help you before I die. Soon, Ren Tao passed away. On his deathbed, he gave the position of Nanhai Wei to Zhao Tuo.
Shortly after Zhao Tuo became Qiu, he monopolized power and acted arbitrarily, which created extremely favorable conditions for his separatist regime in Lingnan. Zhao Tuo really established the "Nanyue Kingdom" and became the king of Nanyue. On the basis of the original noisy city, he doubled it and built "Zhao Tuo City". 1974 More than 4,000 square meters of Nanyue Palace and Royal Garden ruins were excavated on Zhongshan 4th Road. After more than 20 years of continuous excavation and implementation of protective measures, it is now open to the outside world. It is expected that this underground palace and imperial home forest, which has been sleeping for more than 2,000 years, will be presented to tourists in recent years.
In 1993, Liu Che, the fifth generation of Nanyue State, sent troops to destroy Nanyue State in the sixth year of Ding Yuan (11), and then returned to Nanhai County, which was under the jurisdiction of Jiaozhou (Guangxin, the place where Jiaozhou was ruled at that time). At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Guangzhou's economy was quite developed, so the rulers had to consider moving the capital of Jiaozhou to Guangzhou. At that time, the political situation in China was characterized by the tripartite confrontation between Wu, Shu and Wei. In the 22nd year of Jian 'an (AD 2 17), Wu moved the state capital to Panyu (present-day Guangzhou) and built ideal city on the basis of the original Zhao Tuo City. Jiaozhou is called "Buzhi City" because its secretariat is Buzhi. The city is east to Jincangbian Road, west to Huaningli, north to Yuehua Road and south to Xihu Road. In order to strengthen the management of Lingnan, in the fifth year of Huang Wu (AD 226), the State of Wu officially divided Guangzhou into Jiaozhou, south of Hepu, and Guangzhou, north of Hepu. Because the state government moved from Guangxin, it took the word "Guang" as the state name, and the name "Guangzhou" was born from then on.
In 904 AD, Liu Yin was a naval envoy of the Tang and Qing Dynasties, and now he is in Guangdong and Guangxi. In 9 17 AD, his brother Ada proclaimed himself emperor in Lingnan, with the title of Nanhan and its capital in Lingnan. For the third time in history, the city wall was expanded, Yushan was leveled, and the capital was expanded to the south. At the same time, the West Lake (also known as "Fairy Lake", on the north side of Jinjiayuan Road South Theater) was dug in the west of the city, 500 feet long, connected with the Nangong, and built in the lake, called "Yaozhou". There are nine magnificent rocks in the lake, which are called "Nine Obsidian Stones". There are pavilions and pavilions by the lake with beautiful scenery. South ad 97 1 year